92 



359. ALYXIA STELLATA, R. et 8. 



a. Bark. Presented by Mr. D. Hanbury. 



Note. This bark resembles Canella in colour, but is in smaller quills, 

 is fibrous, and has an odour like Tonka bean. It contains benzoic acid. 

 It has been used in Germany for chronic diarrhoea and nervous com- 

 plaints. See Lindl. Flor. Med., p. 532. For fig. see Goebel und Kunze, 

 pt. i., t. xxvi., fig. 7-13. 



360. APOCYNUM ANDROSCEMIFOLIUM L. (Bitter-root, Dog's-bane, Milk- 



weed.) 

 a. Root. 



Note. The root is used in America as an emetic and tonic in chronic 

 hepatic affections. It is official in the secondary list of the U.S. Pharm. 

 under the name of Dogbane. Amer. Dispens., p. 114. 



361. APOCYNUM CANNABINUM, L. (Indian Hemp.') 



a. Root. 



Note. The root is emetic, diaphoretic, and diuretic. It is used in 

 dropsy and uterine congestion. It is official in the secondary list of the 

 U. S. Pharmacopoeia. Amer. Dispens., p. 115. This must not be con- 

 founded with Cannabis Indica, which is also much used in America. 



362. GEISSOSPERMUM VELLOSII, Allem. 



a. Bark. (" Pdo Pereira," of Rio Janeiro.) 



Note. This is a very fibrous thin yellow bark ; it is intensely bitter. It 

 was presented by Professor Guibourt. It is said by him to contain an 

 alkaloid, called Pereirine, possessing eminently febrifuge qualities. See 

 Hist, des Drag., t. ii.,p. 569 ; Martins'. Syst. Mat. Med. Bras. , p. 39. For 

 Pereirine, see Watts, Diet. Chemistry, vol. iv., p. 377. 



363. GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS, Pers. (Yellow Jasmine, Wild Jessa- 



mine, Woodbine, Carolina Jessamine.) 

 a. Root. For fig. of root, see P. J. [3] , vol. vi., p. 521. 

 Note. This drug consists partly of root, and partly of stem. It is 

 official in the U.S. Pharm. It is much valued as a remedy for control- 

 ling nervous irritability in fevers, and for subduing tetanus. In large 

 doses it has proved fatal. See Amer. Dispens., p. 378 ; Lancet, May 24, 



1873, p. 731 ; September 23, 1873, p. 475 ; Brit. Med. Journ., May 2, 



1874, p. 576. For Tincture, see P. J. [3] , vol. iv., p. 998. For Liquid 

 Extract, U. S. Pharm., p. 159 ; P. J. [3], voL vi., pp. 481, 561, 601. For 

 fig of plant, see Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 181. 



364. HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSENTERICA, B. Br. (Conessi Bark, Tellicherry 



Bark, Codaga Pala, Corte de Pala.) 



a. Bark. 



b. Seeds. (Anderjow.) 



Note. The bark is deemed a specific in most complaints of the bowels 

 by the natives of India. It was formerly sent to Europe, but fell into 

 disrepute, probably owing to the fact that a tree extremely similar in 

 appearance (Wrightia tinctoria, R. Br.), yields a bark not possessing the 

 same properties, the bark of which may have been gathered for it. See 

 Ind. Pharm., pp. 137, 455. The bark is of a dirty white colour, similar 

 to that of Alstonia scholaris, but is much denser and not spongy. 



